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We all got up early and Natalie took us to the Ferry to Moreton’s Island which assembled at 6:30 and left at 7. We were really looking forward to some kayaking and snorkeling. The package we got included both (with paddleboarding, too, if we so desired), and a meal ticket for use at the resort’s restaurants.
After landing, we were greeted by a “guide” — whose purpose was to show us around, where the various facilities were, and what was included in our packages. We got a briefing on the tides and wind, too. At 9 am the current was moving north toward the reef, but that at 1, it was expected to turn south and back towards the resort. Armed with that info, we opted to go for a walk along the beach and check out what was going on in the water with our feet on dry land. It was about an hour to the reef by kayak and we had four hours once we checked them out. We decided to leave around 11, snorkel until 1, then ride that tide back to the resort.
The beach was beautiful and we walked for about a mile until we could see the Tangalooma Wrecks that made up the artificial reef. Along the way, we watched a train of (noisy) ATVs on the beach, heading up the trails to the top of the island. When we got back to the resort, Dana went to see if we could change our return ferry from 4:30 to 7:30. She was successful and we were able to relax a bit about getting out on the water and getting back to make that earlier ferry.
We went to rental place, secured our valuables in a locker, got our snorkeling equipment, and dragged a couple of kayaks down to the water. It was a pretty quick paddle to the wreck with the tailwind and current, but getting the kayaks to shore and up on the beach proved to be a challenge. Once we got the kayaks secured, we donned our snorkels and flippers and headed out to the reef. That wasn’t so easy either, but we finally made it out and were dazzled by the number and variety of fish swimming all around us.
We swam with the fishes for about 45 minutes and then headed back to shore, stowed the snorkeling gear, and started paddling back into a strong headwind. If the current was heading back towards the resort, it certainly wasn’t noticeable. I had gone a couple hundred yards when I looked back and saw that Dana had barely moved from our beach spot. I circled back and insisted we go into shore and change kayaks. Hers was bigger and heavier and mine was more svelte. After the change she did much better and we got back to the drop off with a half hour to spare. Pulling the kayaks in from the water, I found out what the problem with Dana’s was: It was full of water and I could barely drag it up to the stack. I never made it that far and just left the bloated boat on the beach. On a closer look, it had a lot of cracks that had some attempt to seal them with caulk. One kayak that should definitely be removed from the rotation!
Dana wasn’t done with the water and checked out a paddleboard. I didn’t think the conditions were calm enough to get much pleasure from that endeavor, so I found a picnic table and put our wet things out to dry (myself included). Dana didn’t succeed at getting up on the board and got back just before the rental place closed. We hung out at the table for a while before grabbing a meal at one of the resort’s three restaurants. First order of business, however, was getting our daily refresher beers which we did and ended up sharing a picnic table with a nice older couple. Judy and Paul were very welcoming and it didn’t take long before we found out Judy’s brother had worked in Pittsburgh, and their daughter lived in Davis, CA, near the UC campus, and Paul was retired as a distributor for Trek bicycles in Australia. They were long-time visitors to Moreton and had a place there. We had a nice chat with them, including about the dolphin feeding at 6:30, and how we’d be able to watch from the ferry dock. Judy also gave us some history about the resort and how the feeding was started to help publicize the place. Soon, though, it was time for their reservation at the Chinese restaurant option and we bid them adieu and went to the lower end option that was covered by our meal tickets!
By 6:30, it was already getting dark, so we headed to the pier to see what all the fuss was about the dolphin feeding. We watched a lot of fuss. People lined the pier “grandstand” and just about as many lined up to be part of the actual feeding. A young woman gave a 1/2 long lecture on dolphins and how the feeding would progress. It wasn’t until about 7:15 that the first feeding happened, and that was two guides helping a patron into the water and helping them drop a small fish into the dolphin’s bill all while a photographer is snapping pics for posterity (and $$$). All seemed a little too staged for our liking, but it was fun watching the dolphins jump and dive and scarf the fish down.
The ferry actually waits until the feeding is over before leaving, so it was 7:45 before we left. The bay was pretty choppy thanks to the wind, and it was quite a bumpy ride until we got to the Brisbane River and some sheltering islands. We ordered an Uber and he was waiting for us right outside the gate, and in less than 15 minutes, we were back at Natalie’s. A short update with her, and a little wine nightcap, and we were ready to get some sleep.
*- Wreck fish pic from https://www.fourwornsoles.com/snorkeling-at-tangalooma-wrecks/
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